Mesothelioma is cancer that affects the lining or inner membrane of the abdomen, lungs, heart, or testes. It can be benign or malignant, but malignant in most cases. Malignant mesothelioma can occur by continuous exposure to asbestos particles present in the air. When these particles are inhaled, they accumulate in the lining of the lungs, heart, abdomen, or testicles and cause inflammation and irritation that ultimately lead to the growth of cancer.
Asbestos exposure can happen from the use of products contaminated by asbestos in the home, school, workplace, naval ships, and military structures. Asbestos fiber takes time to cause the damage, maybe decades that ultimately leads to mesothelioma. In the initial stages, diagnosis is difficult because of minor or no symptoms.
Types Of Mesothelioma
Types of mesothelioma are described based on tumors located in the body.
- Pleural mesothelioma affects the inner lining that surrounds the lungs.
- Peritoneum mesothelioma affects the mesothelium lining that surrounds the abdomen.
- Pericardial mesothelioma covers the mesothelium lining cancer of the heart.
- Testicular mesothelioma affects the tunica vaginalis of testes.
Preparing Yourself For Treatment
Victims of mesothelioma need to prepare themselves for effective treatment as it is deadly cancer. In most cases, this cancer is diagnosed at late stages, and the patient and family members undergo depression for an early and right treatment plan. Treatment is expensive, and patients need mesothelioma compensation. Such patients can apply for a legal compensation claim. They can consult with an experienced lawyer to receive an amount after passing through the legal process. For quicker conclusions, insurance companies settle the claim out of court through the settlement process at any stage to start the treatment as soon as possible. Many mesothelioma cases are solved before going to trial.
Patients who claim mesothelioma compensation must have medical records, work history records, evidence to prove asbestos exposure, cancer diagnosis reports, and financial records. If the patient dies of mesothelioma, family members, spouse, or children can also file a legal compensation claim. A team of leading mesothelioma lawyers will help you receive compensation for losses, including travel for treatment, medicine cost, funeral cost, and other expenses.
Types Of Treatments
The treatment plans for mesothelioma patients include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy depending upon the patient’s condition. These treatments can help improve the quality of life and live longer.
Mesothelioma Surgery
Patients diagnosed with cancer in its early stages are recommended to undergo surgery procedures, including removing visible tumors with chemotherapy to improve the quality of life.
Chemotherapy
Patients who are ineligible for surgery are recommended to undergo chemotherapy. Chemo drugs are given to patients to increase the life span of patients three times than expected.
Radiation
Radiation therapy is recommended at the last stage of mesothelioma cancer when surgery and chemotherapy do not work to control symptoms such as severe pain, restlessness, and discomfort.
Combination Treatment
Pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma types can be treated using two or more conventional treatments that help to control cancer growth.
Cryotherapy
An invasive surgical procedure that kills cancer cells by freezing them.
Use of Immunotherapy Drugs
Immunotherapy drugs such as pembrolizumab having antibodies can be used to limit cancer growth and even kill cancer cells.
Photodynamic Therapy
The drug is injected inside the patient body to kill cancer cells by using laser light energy to activate the drug.
Virotherapy
In this therapy, viruses are used for cancer treatment. These viruses find cancer cells and kill them while leaving healthy cells unharmed. Viruses may include herpes simplex virus HSV, measles, West Nile, and hepatitis B. Virotherapy increases the effectiveness of adjuvant therapies such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Patients can have side effects like chills, nausea, muscle aches, fever, and loss of appetite after the treatment.
Gene therapy
It is a combination treatment type. New cells are introduced into the patient’s body to kill cancer cells in this therapy. Genes are introduced by gene transfer to the cancer cells to stop or slow down the growth of tumors. Suicide genes convert the nontoxic drug into an oncolytic drug called a cancer-killing drug. Adenovirus, lentivirus, or vaccina virus can be used to administer suicide gene therapy.
Treatment with Nutrition
The immune system of mesothelioma patients becomes weak, and doctors strongly recommend a healthy diet full of nutrition to reduce side effects, improve the immune system, speed up recovery and extend patient survival—a protein-rich diet benefits cancer patients during and after treatments like chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy.
Types Of Mesothelioma Claims
Personal Injury Claims
Individuals exposed to asbestos file personal injury claims if symptoms appear due to continuous exposure to asbestos and are diagnosed with cancer. This claim is filed against the asbestos company dealing with manufacturing asbestos products and cannot provide protective equipment to their employees. This claim can also be filed if the victim has used asbestos products and is searching for compensation to cover treatment expenses, pain, and suffering.
Wrongful Death Claims
If the victim passes away, then family members of the victim file wrongful death claims. The victim’s loved one asks to receive compensation for funeral costs, medical bills, and other expected expenses.
Asbestos Trust Fund Claims
Many companies have established asbestos trusts to compensate mesothelioma victims and their loved ones. Healthcare attorneys have recuperated millions of dollars for mesothelioma victims.
Veterans Affairs Claims
If exposed to asbestos on the job, old military soldiers can file a veteran’s affairs claim to gain benefits from the department of veteran affairs.
Workers Claims.
Employees working in an organization with mesothelioma victims can file claims or recover money from an organization on the job or after retirement.
Process Of Mesothelioma Claims
- Choose an experienced lawyer who can handle legal matters.
- Gather information related to your work history and medical history.
- Search for reliable recovery trust.
- File a claim according to the situation of your case, as each mesothelioma case is different.
Conclusion
Patients suffering from mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases have the right to apply for legal compensation without any hesitation. This compensation enables the patients and family members to fight deadly cancer and come out of depression and emotional damage regarding the cost of treatment and other related expenses.